Teicher: Albert shaping up at tackle for Chiefs
 

Albert shaping up at tackle for Chiefs
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

When the 2009 season mercifully ended, Branden Albert was like everyone else and unsure whether he would be the Chiefs’ left tackle when they gathered again.

Albert was still trying to establish himself as a quality player at his position, a premium one because it protects the back side of quarterback Matt Cassel and battles each week against the NFL’s best pass rushers.

Albert decided shortly after season’s end that he would prepare as if he would have to battle to keep his job. That decision might have persuaded the Chiefs not to draft a left tackle.

In any case, it was an extremely quiet preseason for Albert until Friday night’s game against Philadelphia. Albert was penalized once for holding and another time for a false start.

Still, the Chiefs are encouraged by what they’ve seen from Albert. He ties that to his offseason decision.

“I really wasn’t thinking about what else would happen,” Albert said. “My thing was not to make the same mistake I did last offseason by getting out of shape. That’s what I was worried about. If I had done what I did last year, it would have been a big step back.

“I didn’t worry about what else was going on. I wanted to control what I could control and that was to come into the offseason in the best shape possible.”

In last year’s new world of coach Todd Haley, smaller was deemed to be better for a lot of Chiefs players and Albert was one of them. He had trouble getting to his prescribed weight of 316 pounds and then had trouble dealing with his new, slimmed-down body.

The result was a difficult season. Albert was among the league leaders in sacks allowed, sparking thoughts the Chiefs would look for a new left tackle with the fifth pick in the draft and then move Albert to right tackle or guard, where he played at Virginia.

Two things stopped the Chiefs — aside from the fact they fell in love with Tennessee safety Eric Berry. Albert improved toward the end of last season and attacked the offseason with a vengeance.

“I’ve felt that about Branden going back to last year, from the conditioning aspect to buying in to the thought process to believing what he was told, that he could be a better player if he was in better condition and at a certain weight,” Haley said.

“He went through an adjustment period of dealing with his new body. He stayed in shape when the season ended. He came into this offseason with a baseline of where he needed to be and then he built on it. He’s gotten stronger, he’s gotten quicker, he’s got better stamina.”

Veteran left guard Brian Waters last year was Albert’s biggest — and seemingly sometimes only — fan. He vigorously defended Albert, saying that given time, Albert could become a franchise left tackle for years.

Waters hoped the Chiefs wouldn’t draft a left tackle.

“I didn’t think it was necessary, to be honest with you,” Waters said. “He has the ability to be as good there is in this game. We had a lot of other pressing needs that were definitely more important than that one.

“I know how hard he works. He wants to be great. That’s one thing about him. His work ethic and his concentration in the classroom and on the field match what he wants out of life as far as being a football player. A lot of guys say they want it but they don’t want to put in the work and handle all the details. He’s one of those guys who if you give him something he did wrong, he’s going to work all week to fix that.

“He’s not one of those guys who thinks he has all the answers, which a lot of times those high draft picks … these days you don’t even need to be a high draft pick. He listens, takes everything in.”

The Chiefs were hopeful about Albert’s progress when camp started but unsure. So far, he’s been what they hoped.

“He’s got (Tamba Hali) lining up across from him every single day,” Haley said. “When Tamba brings in it like he’s bringing it in a game … he isn’t calling off the dogs very often. I see a good battle between Branden and Tamba on a consistent basis.

“He’s got good competition and that makes the game a little easier for him. He’s just got to keep it going.”

The Chiefs gave Albert a vote of confidence when they opted to pass on the chance to draft a left tackle, but Albert isn’t necessarily looking at it that way.

“I won’t say that,” Albert said. “I’ll just say that what I’ve done in the offseason showed people what I needed to show them.

“I’m not going to say I’m a better player. Let me go through the season first. I’ve started off on a good foot by staying in shape in the offseason and doing what I had to do. From January to March, I think I did a good job. We’ll see how everything plays out during the season.”

Sheffield out of hospital

The Chiefs confirmed Saturday that linebacker Cameron Sheffield, who was injured in Friday’s preseason game against Philadelphia, has been released from the hospital.

Sheffield, who suffered a neck injury on what appeared to be a helmet-to-helmet hit while making a tackle, was immobilized and carried off the field. He has movement in all of his extremities, the Chiefs said.

Sheffield was a fifth-round pick from Troy in this year’s draft.

Third week of preseason.

I guess it's never too late for a fluff piece if you're a sports writer.

Albert didn't look that good....

I'd rather see a piece about Barry Richardson, who was very good against Philly.

I don't know how these people keep their jobs.

I'm guessing, not much longer....

Well, it is the KC Star after all.

I was a HUGE Albert fan, especially after seeing how well he played in space at Virginia. I was extremely happy about his first year in KC. He pretty much kicked ass from game one.

Haley and Bill Muir (who I ****ING HATE) ****ed him up. The ENTIRE offensive line, despite their age, has taken a MAJOR step backwards since his hiring. I think he ****ing blows and should be fired ASAP.

Not only have people like Albert, Richardson and Brown not progressed, Asamoah, who was rated very highly hasn't done ****ing DICK.

Ryan Lilja, a left guard that was converted to right guard, has absolutely been the class of the 2010 preaseason, probably because he's been around long enough and is smart enough to avoid Muir's bullshit advice.

I don't have any idea what Pioli is seeing in these offensive and defensive lineman but whatever it is, sucks ****ing ass.

I dont know what people saw in Barry Richardson in that game, dude was garbage for a lot of the game.

Swinging gate till the philly backups took the field.

Dude is a good run blocker, but is gonna get someone killed in pass protection.

His arms and hands are worse that Ocals feet

more like wounded vagina since 2000 am i rite?

Is it me? Or does any body else think Albert would play better with more weight? We drafted him becouse he was big and could play LT. I think his weight loss has significalty deminished his skills some how. Thought he had more potential with the bigger size than he has now. Just my thoughts. Now think he should just play guard and have to draft another LT next year. At least we would have a replacemnt for Brian Waters. Not sure how much longer Brian Waters is going to be around. He is getting up there in age.

He kept diving at the ground infront of Cole, and it was actually working, in terms of just being a road block

Dude our line is horrible. Our interior guys are weak and get shoved around. and our tackles look like they're walking around on bowlegged stilts.

It's not just you. His skills seemed to take a hit after he lost some of his girth. Let him pound a cheese burger or two Todd.

to the kitchen

I don't really understand why people have such issues with our o-line. It's not like Cassel is getting hit a lot. It's not like he's getting a ton of pressure. It's not like we're struggling to move the ball on the ground.

Jamaal Charles proved that our run blocking wasn't bad--we just need a RB with the vision to see the hole and hit it. Cassel, I believe, will prove that a good QB should do the same thing. A QB can spot a blitz from a mile away and get rid of the ball so fast, they really don't need to pass protect. If Cassel had any hint of pocket awareness, we'd eliminate a huge chunk of our sacks and pressures.

Cassel makes these guys look bad.

In a Zone Blocking Scheme, his weight is just fine. If he adds weight, that's playing to the strengths of a totally different blocking scheme.

That's all fine and dandy but he's a big nasty sumbitch,let him fuggn eat and play like a big nasty sumbitch!
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What we don't need is a bunch of fat asses at any position. Adding weight by adding muscle is what wouldn't be bad. But just being fat and out of shape won't help his game.

as someone else called him......

"eagle eye" says it like it is.



*sarcasm pretty thick here*

One thing I've noticed about Albert ever since we drafted him, he always gets off to slow starts. But he's had to make a lot of adjustments the last two years.

What I do like about him is he plays better as the season goes on. He just seems like one of those guys that starts off slow but finishes strong. Not sold on him being a franchise LT, but I think he will be solid.

He's also athletic as shit and plays really well in space. His upside is in his feet, not in his size. I don't have a problem w/him playing at a lower weight. And for a ZBS, where pass protection tends not to be phenomenal, I think he's doing just fine.

Let's take Wiegmann vs. Niswanger, for example. The reason Wiegmann's been so much more effective is that he's a pretty terrific space blocker. In a ZBS, I'd rather have a space blocker who's outmatched by big blockers than the other way around.

weird how they write this piece after Alberts worse preseason game.

Wat

When you see what you want to see, yes.
http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2010/8...aking-down-the

This guy for Arrowhead Pride has been breaking down the o-line tape play by play. Albert has not been nearly as bad as some people want to make him out to be.

In the beginning of last season, Cassel was getting sacked a ton because the interior line was getting pushed into him. Since then, Cassel's mostly had a working pocket and 3-5 seconds to get rid of the ball untouched. In a lot of cases, I've seen Cassel take a sack, run forward, or fumble the ball because he didn't have the awareness to step up in the pocket.

Our run blocking hasn't been that bad. It's nowhere near the 2003 Chiefs, but it's looked pretty good this preseason. Our pass protection has struggled, but again, a lot of that is on the QB. I can guarantee that Drew Brees or Tom Brady would have this same offensive line look like a totally different pass protecting unit.

where did i say he's been bad? link?

you can't because i didn't

i SAID ... "after his worse preseason game" ... Which is was.


now grab another glass of kool-aid and hush up

I'd agree that Albert hasn't been nearly as bad as some want to make him out to be, but at the same time, he hasn't made the progress at this point that should have been expected if he had truly committed himself this offseason to improve.

I agree with all but the bolded part. He came in at weight and passed the physical test and i've read no news of his commitment being questioned.
So what information are you forming this opinion on?


PhilFree:arrow:

I'm not saying he's an all-pro by any means. I'm just trying to figure out why people are saying he had such a bad game or that he hasn't improved or that he's having such a bad preseason that he shouldn't even be starting anymore. He needs to improve a lot. But these big mistakes people keep talking about, where are they? He hasn't been dominating the guys he's blocked, but he hasn't been getting beat or dominated by any stretch.

And the answer is that I think a lot of people see poor blocking or poor o-line play and just assume that the Left Tackle is responsible.

Terrible article. The commentary is total rehash from other articles, and those quotes are all old. Just awful! That's several lazy articles in a row from Tiecher. How is he still employed?

My opinion is based on his play on the field.

What we get from this article is that he committed to maintaining weight and keeping in shape.

What we don't get from this article, or from his play on the field, is anything that suggests he committed to improving his technique.

sparking thoughts the Chiefs would look for a new left tackle with the fifth pick in the draft and then move Albert to right tackle or guard, where he played at Virginia.

IMO, they still need to do this. Albert simply as not progressed at LT to be considered a solid future option.

link?

I don't agree with this. If he has any upside at LT, you absolutely stick with him. Of course he's progressed. In his rookie season, he went from zero left tackle experience to being a decent starter. In his second season, he learned a totally different blocking scheme, was forced to lose weight and play with totally different technique, and he went from being a swinging gate to a good run blocker and at least holding some of his own on pass protections.

The guy has absolutely progressed. And while he hasn't shown a ton of improvement from the end of last season, he definitely has not regressed. He's a solid but unspectacular LT for now and he still has significant upside. I absolutely do not want to see him at Guard until we're absolutely convinced he's not a LT of the future.

Yea, Albert sucks. He has failed the team miserably to this point. He is the reason we are 0-3 in preseason. He is a loser. He can't play. Did you see him suck it up in that one game? Good God he is atrocious.

We should have an All Pro LT, QB, RB, Lb, NT, WR and, DB on the roster by now.If you aren't all pro you suck.

Who drafted Brandon, Pioli? What a loser. Oops nope. Well he still sucks.

Is Damion McIntosh available?

Dude, read this thread.

You said he had his worst game by opinion, even though there's a detailed play-by-play breakdown that says he did just fine.

Dane and a few others have said they need to give up on the Albert project and go with a guy like Barry Richardson.

There are a bunch of people who have said he has not improved or shown progress.

Look what the Bucs fan on here said when we hired Muir.
http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showp...5&postcount=19

I wish all OL sucked to the level of 6 yards per carry.

albert is a better LT than Cassel is a QB

I really think sometimes people bitch for the sake of bitching.

Blame the front office for not bringing great talent to the offensive line. But in terms of the coaching, Albert has most definitely progressed under Muir's watch and the run blocking has improved by leaps and bounds. And the pass protection went from swinging gate to giving Cassel more than enough time to make plays.

I don't blame Muir one bit for working with average talent (mostly) and for being asked to protect the QB who makes his offensive line significantly worse by poor decision making.

Funny thing is when Cassel struggles it's not the OL's fault. Now we have a Albert sucks thread.

Unless a player is All Pro or a Pro Bowler they suck ass.

Albert just needs to be competent, why does he need to kill people every day to be acceptable?

We don't need Pol Pot a LT. We just need Churchill.

:toast: THIS

i think you get upset and insulted and make things up.

logic test for you:

a. brandon albert had his worst game of the preseason
b. brandon albert is a bad player


Do comments A) and B) mean the same thing?

i would say this is true

The flea-flicker was on Albert as much as it is on Cassel. Albert didn't knock his guy down when he should had. The link that I am providing will show it, or at least I hope so.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=MVI_0673.mp4

How dare you say that Brandon Albert is the worse LT to ever play the game/Chiefzilla

While Cassel makes the line look horrible, Albert hasn't progressed in his technique which is the biggest concern. Running game is better, but how much does Charles have to do with that?

I didn't realize that when I said "people" that that was only a reference to you.

Laz = all people
Therefore,
I = Laz

Hmm... I get how logic works. This is fun.

"not nearly as bad" = "worst"

Pot --> kettle --> black

More fun logic games.

Seriously, does it matter as long as it is good?

Why bitch about something that isn't really an issue? Bitch about NT or Cassel shitting himself under pressure (which you will) or lack of Government understanding towards spending tax $.

Why bitch about a non issue?

hey ... you quoted me to start this off

if you aren't including me, then don't quote me

Albert's technique is markedly better. He just doesn't do it as consistently as he should. Like I said, he went from 0 LT experience to being serviceable in year 1. Learned an entirely new blocking scheme with totally different technique in year 2 and went from swinging gate to decent not great by the end of the year. Unlike Cassel, we've seen progress from Albert which is all I can hope for. In terms of the running game, Albert, Lilja and Wiegmann have all been very good at blocking at the second level. Again, Albert still makes some small mistakes, but for the most part has been solid in this part of the game.

He's got to improve his consistency and in some cases, it seems to be more of a recognition of when to use one technique over the other. That should hopefully improve over time. But this preseason, he hasn't been dominated by any means by any pass rushers, and he's made a lot more good blocks on running plays than he's made mistakes. So I just think when people suggest that he's not progressing or getting better, I think they're generalizing the offensive line shortcomings on the Left Tackle only because it's the most prominent position on the line.

Here was my exact post:
"When you see what you want to see, yes.
http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2010/8...aking-down-the

This guy for Arrowhead Pride has been breaking down the o-line tape play by play. Albert has not been nearly as bad as some people want to make him out to be."

Mohill: Mountain
Cabin:: Mansion

There's nothing saying he hasn't committed either and it would be easy to think that he has indeed committed to improving his play because he did show up in the condition Haley wanted him in.

IMO he's probably working his ass off but he's still struggling with the techniques. He is improving slightly. If he keeps it up he might be a solid LT someday. I'd like to think all at once the light is gonna come on and he's gonna be the player we want him to be. I'd like to think that but I'm struggling with that technique.


PhilFree:arrow:

The running game has not been "good" without Jamaal Charles in these games. It's been average at best. The yards per carry between Charles and Jones is HUGE.

The Chiefs offensive line is NOT good. They're not even average right now. The pass blocking is well below average and the run blocking is average at best. Charles makes the line look better, Cassel makes the line look worse.

Niswanger and Weigman are not long-term answers, neither are Waters or O'Callaghan. Richardson is below average at right tackle. AND there is no depth. Asamoah does not appear ready to be a consistent 16 game starter at this point and Albert has not progressed as expected.

I'm shocked to be typing this but Ryan Lilja has been the best offensive lineman this preseason and Albert isn't even a close second.

but mccluster averaged 6 against philly too, dane.
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That's not going to occur very often, especially with the pounding he takes. He's going to need to learn how to better manage the hits he takes or the guy won't last 2 years in the league.

i have the feeling hes gonna be all right. but i have nothing to really back it up, just a feeling.
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i have the feeling hes gonna be all right. but i have nothing to really back it up, just a feeling.


please dont scream at me now....
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Phil, no one wants to see Albert succeed more than me.

I have been on his bandwagon as a LT on this forum, or hell, anywhere, longer than anyone.

I was the first one anywhere, on here, the media, anywhere, that suggested he had the athletic ability to play LT.

If there's one guy who I want to succeed, it's Albert.

But I'm not going to close my eyes to the fact that he has not progressed from the end of last season.

That either suggests that he didn't work on improving his technique, or that he simply is not getting it.

I'd actually rather the former than the latter.

That's been a point I've been trying to make for a couple of weeks. People get so locked on the love/hate for Cassel that you can't say a word about line play without somebody tossing out "more excuses for Cassel :rolleyes:". Reality is that the line just isn't very good. It wasn't good when Charles got all those yards the second half of last year - I can't remember the last time I saw a guy make as much out of nothing as he did in '09 - and so far this preseason it's not looking much better.

Hope to christ they gel in the next three weeks, although I know what the chances of that are.

Or quite possibly that he's still warming up, like a lot of players are. His problem isn't that he has no technique or lacks it. He's not getting beat by pass rushers. He's not completely missing his assignment or blocking the wrong guy, as he was last year. He's not getting mauled or dominated. His problem right now is that every so often, he'll forget which technique he's supposed to use.

He's got to become more consistent and be able to hold his blocks for just a little bit longer, and he's got to get a better handle for what technique to use when. I think that's an entirely different problem than having poor technique. And it's one that could (maybe) improve with repetition and experience.

I thought you were an atheist?

He's doing a preventive prayer.

Doesn't want the christians to slay him before God.

The deal is that they are doing more enough for the offensive players to make plays. They've got holes and more weaknesses than strengths. But Cassel has more than enough time to throw and there are holes in the run game for RBs to run through, even if small. And it's not just Charles. They're doing it for McCluster too. They do it sometimes for Jones, but interior power blocking isn't what they're built to do. Albert, Lilja, and Wiegmann are all really good second-level blockers, which is good for the types of backs that we have.

I don't really know why we're hitting the crisis button on the o-line right now. Our running game's been outstanding this preseason and Cassel's had a chance to look at 1-2 reads on most plays without getting hit. What is it about our offensive line right now that people are so worried about?

I'm equal-opportunity. I used to praise Elune when I played World of Warcraft, and I sometimes mention the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus.

This is basically the way I feel about it, in a nutshell: if they're in an obvious passing situation, I expect Cassel to be hurried and/or hit, and if they're in a short yardage situation, I expect that they'll have trouble running the ball. I think the plays that they do make (and they will make some...) are going to have to be the result of scheme and playcall, because I don't think this is a unit that can just line up over the ball and do what they want to the defense. It is not a strong offensive line. They have not yet shown any ability to consistently pass protect, and while they're better with the run then they are the pass, I think Charles' uncanny tendency to generate yards after contact creates a kind of mirage as far as their ability to run block goes. I think Jones' numbers (right now @ 3 ypc) are more indicative of the line's quality.

That's what I've seen. Maybe I'm jaded. Maybe I expect too much. But I just don't feel good about the line at this point.

I also don't feel good about the quarterback, either. Which for me is a separate issue.

I hope in a month I look like an idiot for being at all concerned.

Those are good points and concerns. I still believe Cassel is a LOT more responsible for pass protection problems than the other way around. He doesn't find hot reads. He doesn't know how to move around in the pocket to buy time. The only way to protect him is to have a perfect pocket, and no o-line should be expected to do that every play of the game. The line isn't great, but they have been pretty consistent this preseason in giving Cassel his one or two reads. When Cassel can't find a read, he needs to learn how to extend the play. Sadly, he probably never will. The o-line could be much better particularly in the middle, but I don't see them as a liability.

As for Jones, I don't think the line is suited for him. I think he's there moreso to be a big body option. This o-line is built to block on the second level. Lilja and Albert are terrific second level blockers. Wiegmann's good too. And Waters isn't half bad. They're not great power blockers and can get outmatched, but in terms of blocking for speed backs, our line is actually very well built to do it. That's why Charles and McCluster are thriving and Jones is not.

We need major upgrades. We need a Center with a little more balance (but athleticism should be the bigger priority). We need a RT with the same credentials. And we need Asamoah to eventually start. But they're going to be good run blockers for Charles/McCluster and they're adequate enough to get some momentum in the passing game, if only we had a QB who made them better instead of making them worse.